Finding Quality Early Childcareis a tool for parents to use in selecting quality childcare that best meets the needs of their family. This book reviews foundational elements of childcare, such as health and safety features, while explaining educational strategies, including styles of teaching and daily classroom activities.Finding Quality Early Childcarealso covers types of specialized childcare, such as infant care and childcare for children with special needs, reviews Transitional Kindergarten, and discusses when children are ready to transition from preschool to Kindergarten.

Sarah Taylor Vanover has been working in the field of early childhood education for over fifteen years and has had the opportunity to be a teacher, a director, and a trainer for other early childhood educators. For the past several years she has focused her work and research on assessing quality early childhood programs for health and safety requirements and school readiness skills.

Table of ContentsPrefaceWhy is it important to find quality childcare?What are the Benefits of Selecting High Quality Childcare?What Do I Need to Know about Childcare?Chapter 1: License, Accreditation, and PoliciesWhat Is Licensed Child Care?What Does a License Require?What is an Accreditation?How Does a Childcare Program Become Accredited?Early Childhood Accrediting BodiesCenter PoliciesChapter 2: Models of LearningChild-Centered vs. Teacher-CenteredStyles of LearningDoing Your ResearchChapter 3: Classroom PlacementMoving Children by Age MilestonesYear-long Classroom PlacementMulti-Age Classroom PlacementAdditional QuestionsChapter 4: Health and Safety StandardsRatiosSupervisionReducing InjuryReducing the Spread of IllnessHealthy MealsSafe SleepSmoke-Free CampusChapter 5: Quality Early Childhood EducatorsQuality Early Childhood TeachersQuality AdministratorsTeacher TurnoverDoes the Program Support the Staff?Chapter 6: Quality Curriculum& the Developmentally Appropriate EnvironmentAreas of ContentQuality CurriculumLanguage-Rich EnvironmentDevelopmentally-AppropriateThe Classroom EnvironmentChapter 7: Child Care for Children with Special NeedsStaff ExperienceSupport ServicesAdaptations to the EnvironmentAdaptations to the CurriculumSchedulesPoliciesMedication and AllergiesChapter 8: Infant ChildcareBasic Care Compared to Infant CurriculumSafe SleepFeedingContinuity of Care Compared to Rooms by AgeLanguage-Rich EnvironmentParent Teacher CommunicationChapter 9: The Kindergarten ControversyIs Your Child Ready for Kindergarten?School Readiness SkillsKindergarten ExpectationsThe Recommendation of the Preschool TeacherTransitional KindergartenMaking the Final DecisionAppendix 1: VocabularyAppendix 2: ResourcesAppendix 3: Questions for Touring a Childcare FacilityAbout the Author